1306 - Robert Bruce crowned at Scone 1306 - Robert Bruce crowned at Scone The Bruce Women and the Coronation Bruce had himself crowned King of Scotland and went into open rebellion against the ailing Edward I. Some of his strongest and bravest supporters were women, such as Christiana, Lady of the Isles, who supplied him with galleys and troops, and the more famous Isabel, Countess of Buchan, who stole away from her pro-English husband in order to crown him. Isabel and the women of Bruce's family suffered terrible fates when they were captured by Edward's forces. He ordered the most active of the women to be confined in wooden cages on the tops of towers, exposed to the elements with only a little privy to which to retreat, yet their fate was better than that of the men who fell into his hands and whom he ordered to be hung, drawn and quartered. Here is Walter of Guisborough's account of Bruce's coronation and what followed.

At the beginning of AD 1306, the aforesaid Robert de Bruce, on the day of the Annunciation to the Blessed Mary, had himself crowned as King of Scotland at Scone, in the presence and with the agreement of four bishops, five earls and the people of the land. And the wife of the Earl of Buchan, who was the daughter of the Earl of Fife, to whom by hereditary right it belonged to place the crown on the head of the new king, secretly withdrew from her lord, bringing her lord's war-horses which he had sent home, so that she might exercise that office. This angered her lord, who had stood forth in loyalty to the King of England, and since she had been captured in the same year, he wished to kill her, but the King forbade him and ordered her to be placed upon the wall [the top of a tower] of the castle of Berwick, secured in a wooden cage, so that she could be seen and recognised by those passing by. And she remained many days, thus enclosed and on a strict regimen.

And the King sent two bishops, namely those of Glasgow and St Andrews in Scotland, together with the Abbot of Scone, since they had been captured the same year, into England to different castles and they remained closely confined until the death of the King. And so once he had heard and learnt of the coronation of the new king, the lord the King of England, on the feast of Pentecost, sent forward with an armed band, some of his soldiers, namely the Lord Henry de Percy, the Lord Aylmer de Valence and the Lord Robert Clifford to oppose the new king and hunt him down . . . And the new king fled and they pursued him as far as the isle of Kintyre, and they besieged the castle of that place, believing that he had withdrawn into the same place, but he had gone away into the furthest isles of that region. And when the castle had been taken by storm, they found one of the new king's brothers, namely the Lord Neil de Bruce, with the new queen and many others.

Taking them with them as far as Berwick in the presence there of the justices of the Lord, the King of England, who by the King's command had assembled in that place, the men were judicially condemned, hanged, drawn and beheaded. And because the new queen was a daughter of the Earl of Ulster, he at the beginning of the war waged by his son-in-law, the Lord Robert de Bruce (lest the lord the King of England should suspect him of any evil against him), sent his two sons to the King to be held fast at the King's good will to excuse himself because he had always shown himself loyal to him. Also on account of one word which she had said to her husband when at his coronation he was speaking to her and said, 'Rejoice now, my wife, because you have been made a Queen and I a King,' she is said to have replied to him, 'I am afraid my Lord that we have been made King and Queen, as boys are made in summer games.' Therefore for those two causes the King sent her with her household to stay at her manor of Brustewych and ordered her to be maintained with honour.

[As to] the earl of Atholl, who had fled from that castle and after some interval had been captured, although the Queen of England and many nobles asked the King on his behalf for his life, especially because he was a near relative to the lord the King of England, the King ordered that he should be brought to London and hanged higher than the rest. And because he who had been a prominent blood relation was found to be a traitor, the King ordered him to be beheaded and burned after his hanging, which was done. As to Christopher Seton, who had married the new king's sister, Mary [in fact Christian] by name, although he was English, when he was taken in the castle of Lochdore [Lochdoon Castle] and afterwards his wife and many others, the King ordered that he be taken to Dumfries, where he had killed a soldier, and there to be drawn, hanged and beheaded. His two brothers and others who all agreed to and were present at the death of the lord John Comyn had a similar sentence and this from the King's special command.

However, the King placed Christopher's wife in the monastery of Thyxsel, in Lindesay [Sixhills, Lincolnshire], and he placed the new king's daughter in the monastery of Watthon [Watton, Yorkshire]. Translated by J. Russell, Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough, ed. H. Rothwell, Camden Society, 1957. Robert the Bruce the king we saved Welcome to the Official Site of the Turnbull Clan Association Robert the Bruce the king we saved The story is well known to the members of our clan of of Bedrule’s rescue of the king of Scotland from a raging bull and how we became the Turnbull Clan, but just who was this king that gratefully bestowed on our ancestor the name of Turnbull? Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, the man who led his army to defeat the English and win freedom for his country is a national hero to Scots, but who was he before that? Who was Robert the Bruce? Born on July 11, 1274 at Turnberry Castle, Ayrshire, Robert carried the blood of nobility. His ancestry is both Celtic and Norman.

Robert was the first son of Robert de Brus, 6th Lord of Annandale and Marjorie, Countess of Carrick, daughter of Niall, Earl of Carrick. His claim to the throne was tenuous. John Balliol was actually the King of Scotland at the time but he had surrendered his kingdom to Edward the First of England, Longshanks, known as “the Hammer of the Scots” in 1292. The royal arms were stripped from the coat of arms and John Balliol became known as “Toom Tabard” which means Empty Coat. Greyfriars Kirk, Dumfries, sight of the historic meeting on Feb. 10, 1306. William Wallace had attempted to restore King John, who had gone into exile, to the throne. Wallace had some success in defeating the English at the battle of Stirling Bridge and became the guardian of Scotland in 1297. He was subsequently defeated by Edward’s forces at the battle of Falkirk. Wallace resigned as guardian and went into hiding for seven years until 1305 when he was betrayed as he slept. Wallace was captured in Robroyston near Glasgow.

He was put on trial for treason, convicted and executed in a most hideous manner. On the 24th of August, 1305, William Wallace was hung, drawn and quartered, and beheaded. Edward I of England, as a warning to other would be rebels, had Wallace’s body parts put on display in Berwick, Stirling, Perth, and Newcastle. His head was impaled on a spike at London Bridge. Following Wallace’s resignation as guardian of Scotland, John ‘the Red’ Comyn and Robert the Bruce became joint guardians of the oppressed kingdom until Ingram de Umfraville took Bruce’s place in 1300. Bruce submitted to Edward “Longshanks” of England in 1302. He did this to win a pardon for himself and also because he didn’t want to see the Comyn/Balliol families come into power with their claim to the throne he so strongly desired for himself. Wallace was in hiding and Bruce did not see any reason to continue the fight for independence if he was not going to be king. With Wallace’s execution in 1305 though, things changed yet again.

It wasn’t until 1304, with the death of his father, that Robert had come into real competition with the Comyn/Balliol family for the Scottish throne. Before he could become the king though, Robert had to somehow eliminate his competition. John ‘the Red’ Comyn, the nephew of the exiled king John Balliol, stood in his path to the throne. Comyn was a powerful opponent who had the support of many friends and allies; he was very influential as well and had, maybe, a stronger claim to the kingship than did Bruce. The future king had to come up with a plan to win Comyn’s support in his wish to be king. His plan was to give his land holdings to Comyn in order to buy the support he needed. He arranged for a meeting with his adversary to be held on the 10th of February 1306 at Greyfriars Kirk in Dumfries. Comyn agreed to attend and the two met at the altar of the church on the chosen day. Instead of accepting Bruce’s proposal however, Comyn was outraged at the plan and a heated argument ensued.

At the peak of his own anger Robert the Bruce pulled his dagger and plunged in into John Comyn killing him right there in the church. Comyn’s uncle, Sir Robert Comyn tried to come to his nephew’s aid and was subsequently slain by Bruce’s men. However dubious the murder of John Comyn might have been, Robert the Bruce was now the heir to the throne of Scotland. He was in a precarious place though, having killed a respected nobleman, in a sacred place no less. He knew that Comyn’s kinsmen would not go quietly in the night and he was now an outlaw because of his temper. He was excommunicated from the church by Pope Clement V for his actions on that history changing day. None the less, just six weeks after the murder, on March 25th 1306, Robert the Bruce was crowned king of Scotland. Now all he had to do was to drive the English out of his kingdom… Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland Robert the Bruce, crowned King of Scotland in Scone Palace on March 25th 1306, had but one goal; defeat the English in order to win freedom for his country.

After the killing of John ‘the Red’ Comyn a mere six weeks earlier in Greyfriars Church in Dumfries, Bruce found that he had made enemies in Comyn’s family. Also, he was excommunicated from the church by Pope Clement V for the murder. As to be expected, the new king was outlawed by King Edward I of England. He was now a hunted man, Edward commanded Aymer de Valence, brother-in -law of John Comyn, to hunt down and capture or kill Bruce. Valence defeated Bruce’s forces in a battle at Methven and Bruce himself was very nearly captured by other of Comyn’s kinsmen at Tyndrum. Things went from bad to worse for Robert the Bruce. For their safety, he had sent his family to Kildrummy Castle in Aberdeenshire but the attempt at protecting then proved futile. By September his wife Elizabeth de Burgh and Marjorie Bruce, his daughter by his first wife, Isabella of Mar, were captured and imprisoned. His brother Neil was hanged and beheaded and his sister Mary and the Countess Isabella were put in cages. Bruce fled to the isle of Rathlin off the Irish coast.

He remained hidden until his return to Scotland in 1307. During this period of exile many legends arose regarding Bruce. One of the better known tales is that while hiding in a cave the king observed a spider trying to spin a web across the mouth of the cave. After two failed attempts the spider finally succeeded in its task on its third try. Bruce was supposedly inspired by this and knew that he would try again and if necessary again to conquer the English king and lead his people to the freedom that they so craved. King Robert returned to his beloved Scotland in February of 1307 acutely aware of the strength of the English army as well as its affiliation with the Comyn family and their followers. His only option was to follow the example set by William Wallace which was to conduct a guerilla war and try to demoralize and frighten his enemies. Victory was achieved by the Scots on several occasions. In April of 1307 John Mowbray and his troops were ambushed in Glen Trool, Galloway. Though it was a minor battle, the English suffered heavy losses while the Scots lost few men. The Scottish Army was greatly encouraged by their triumph however small.

In May of the same year the battle of Loudoun Hill near Kilmarnock was fought. While Bruce’s forces were again greatly outnumbered, roughly 600 against 3,000, the Scottish prevailed against once more over the English, defeating Aymer de Valence, the 2nd Earl of Pembroke and Edward’s first cousin, soundly crushing the opposition. Following William Wallace’s guerilla tactics, Bruce used his intimate knowledge of the landscape to overcome a force five times larger than his own. He ordered that a series of trenches be dug to force the English troops to approach across a large boggy area and through a narrow gap between the trenches. His men lay in wait then struck hard and fast using pikemen to stop the English. The battle of Loudoun Hill was to be a training ground for Bruce and his troops. Similar tactics were used seven years hence in the decisive battle of Bannockburn. This battle though small brought King Robert the Bruce his first major victory against the English; it was not to be his last. Just over a month later, on July 7, 1307, the news spread that King Edward I, the ‘Hammer of the Scots’, was dead.

Longshanks was gone at last. While coming north to deal once again with the Scots the English king died of dysentery at age sixty-eight at Burgh on Sands, Cumberland. The story goes that he was not very confident in his son’s ability to carry on the fight to conquer his northern enemies and ordered his flesh boiled from his bones so that they could accompany the troops on the forthcoming battles. His son, Edward II disregarded this request and buried his father in Westminster Abbey among his predecessors. The Battle at Loudoun Hull is considered by many to be a turning point in the fight for Scottish independence. There were to be many more battles before the Scots defeated the English at Bannockburn in 1314. Following the battle at Loudoun Hill and the death of Edward I of England, Scotland’s fight for independence became easier for the Scots. Edward II was not like his father; he was a weak willed dilettante who is thought to have been homosexual. Though no coward, Edward II cared little for campaigning and waging war. He was however still responsible for finishing the matter that his father had left. The battle and subsequent victory at Loudon Hill in 1307 served as a training ground for the Scottish forces.

Other skirmishes provided invaluable experience for Bruce’s forces, too. They were able to learn the methods and tactics of the English army and prepare for the long fight for independence. Intense training of his troops was led by Bruce and his captains in the two months that led up to the battle that finally achieved independence for the Scots; the Battle at Bannock Burn in 1314. Bannockburn is located just over two miles to the south-south east of Stirling and approximately midway between Edinburgh and Glasgow. It is a small town named for Bannock Burn, a small stream the cuts though the village on its way to join the River Forth. Today Bannockburn is a part of the city of Stirling. The battle took place over a two day period; June 23-24, 1314. Edward II of England had come north to relieve Stirling Castle but the Scots would have none of it and kept them at bay. Under overwhelming odds the Scots used the weakness of the English against them. Edward’s troops were arrogantly condescending of the Scots and even though they outnumbered Bruce’s forces by almost ten to one, Bruce and his men were far better equipped for battle.

It was with dogged determination that these doughty men were victorious. The English side lost thousands of men while the Scots lost hundreds and in the end King Edward the second of England was persuaded to leave the battlefield and escape to the south. This action may have saved his life but the consequences were that the English fighters lost heart at the sight of their king fleeing the field. Fear set in for them while the Scots were inspired to fight all the harder winning the day and freedom at last for Scotland. Though the English did not recognize Scotland as a sovereign nation for fourteen more years, until 1328 when the treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton was signed, the Battle of Bannockburn was the deciding factor. The terms of the treaty recognized Scotland as a fully independent nation, recognized Robert the Bruce and his heirs and successors as the rightful rulers of Scotland and set the border between the two countries as that recognized under the reign of King of Scots Alexander III (1249-1286). Robert the Bruce was now the recognized, if not undisputed, King of Scotland. He still had enemies though. The Balliol family still claimed to be the rightful rulers of the land and did everything in their power to regain the crown.

After Bruce’s death the second war of Scottish independence was fought, secretly backed by the English crown. King Robert was militarily successful, by defeating the English King he and his army accomplished that which was thought impossible. With the Declaration of Arbroath of 1320, he gained more credibility and this led to the lifting of his excommunication from the Catholic Church by the new Pope, John XXII. Then in 1328 King Edward III of England signed the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton recognizing Scotland as a free nation with Bruce as her king. Bruce has been a national hero in Scotland for over seven hundred years and with the passage of time he grows larger in our hearts and minds as we remember him and his heroic deeds. It is indeed unfortunate that his death was an ignoble one. Not in battle did Robert the Bruce die like the warrior that he was. Instead he suffered a debilitating illness that many believe was leprosy, but since that disease is not discussed in the accounts of the time others feel that his death might have been due to an “Unclean disease” such as syphilis, additional possibilities include; psoriasis, motor neuron disease or a series of stokes.

On June 7, 1329, just one year after the signing of the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton Robert the Bruce died at the Manor of Cardross near Dumbarton. However, his death is not important to those left around the world who remember him as the man who set Scotland free. We choose to remember his deeds of valor, his undying desire for a free and independent Scotland. It was his last wish that his heart be taken on a crusade to the battles abroad; ‘Against God’s foes’. The slaying of John Comyn had haunted Robert and he fervently desired atonement for the sin that nearly cost him his salvation. So while the body of Robert Bruce lies buried in Dunfermline Abbey, Sir James Douglas was given the task of fulfilling the king’s last request. Bruce’s heart was taken and preserved in a silver casket (right) that Douglas carried suspended from a chain around his neck. A crusade however did not take place in a timely fashion so Douglas and his team instead journeyed to the Spanish Peninsula in order to join Alfonso XI in a campaign against Muhammed IV, Sultan of the Moorish Kingdom of Granada.

Douglas fell in August 1330 during the siege of Teba and Robert’s heart was retrieved by Sir William Keith and returned to Scotland and buried at Melrose Abbey in accordance with Bruce’s wishes. Archaeologists discovered the heart in 1920, but reburied it without marking the location. Then in 1998, during some construction the casket was rediscovered and sent to Edinburgh where it was examined by AOC archaeologists who determined that the casket did indeed contain a human heart and was of the correct age. It was reburied at Melrose Abbey in 1998. What's New Scone Palace hosts King Robert the Bruce’s hand crafted ‘Great Throne’ | Scone Palace Perthshire Scone Palace hosts King Robert the Bruce’s hand crafted ‘Great Throne’ 14 September 2015 Scone Palace has travelled 700 years back in time to welcome a hand crafted replica of the throne of King Robert the Bruce who was crowned King of Scotland at the historic palace in 1306.

Created by the Strathleven Artisans in 2014 to mark the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn, the group will delivered the throne to the Palace on Saturday, 12th September in full period costume to celebrate the throne’s Royal arrival. The throne, which was created in partnership with Historic Scotland to celebrate King Robert’s identity and vision for Scotland, was constructed using timber from across Scotland including pieces from Scone Palace, Turnberry where Bruce was born and the battlefield at Bannockburn. Wood will also feature from one of the largest and oldest trees in Scotland, the Bruce Oak from Strathleven Estate, which fell following a fire in 2005. This tree would have been a sapling when the King himself owned the estate seven centuries ago. Since the Bruce Oak fell, the throne project has been ten years in the making and has been exhibited internationally already since its completion, visiting Teba in Spain earlier this year with plans for it to travel to Pennsylvania, USA after its stay with Scone Palace.

The Strathleven Artiszans, who aim to promote historical links to King Robert the Bruce and Kind David II, also plan to use the Throne as an educational tool to bring history to life. Duncan Thomson, Chairman of Strathleven Artisans, said: “Strathleven Artizans have worked since 2006 to promote Robert the Bruce, his family and the period in which he lived in our area. Robert the Bruce is one of Scotland’s best-known monarchs, and his story has captivated people for generations. It has been amazing being able to showcase the traditionally crafted throne to so many brand new audiences, both young and old, internationally and here in Scotland. We are delighted to bring the ‘Great Throne’ to Scone Palace where King Robert the Bruce was crowned all those years ago.” The Throne is based on studies of Bruce’s seal of 1316 where he is sitting on a throne featuring clawed feet and four mythological creatures on the arm rests, facing north, south east and west to protect the King from every direction. Margo Baird, Head of Marketing at Scone Palace, commented: “It is an immense privilege to exhibit this incredibly intricate hand crafted throne.

We hope many members of the public will visit to admire the throne’s craftmanship and be inspired to learn about this celebrated Scottish King who had such strong historical links to Scone Palace.” Robert the Bruce’s throne will be on display at Scone Palace until October 31st before it embarks on another adventure with the Strathleven Artizans. Scone Palace to host Robert the Bruce’s ‘Great Throne’ - Falkirk Herald Scone Palace to host Robert the Bruce’s ‘Great Throne’ Dawn Renton Have your say Scone Palace is travelling 700 years back in time to welcome a hand crafted replica of the throne of King Robert the Bruce who was crowned King of Scotland at the historic palace in 1306. Created by the Strathleven Artisans in 2014 to mark the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn, the group will deliver the throne to the Palace at 11.00am on Saturday (September 12) in full period costume to celebrate the throne’s Royal arrival.

The throne, which was created in partnership with Historic Scotland to celebrate King Robert’s identity and vision for Scotland, was constructed using timber from across Scotland including pieces from Scone Palace, Turnberry where Bruce was born and the battlefield at Bannockburn. Wood will also feature from one of the largest and oldest trees in Scotland, the Bruce Oak from Strathleven Estate, which fell following a fire in 2005. This tree would have been a sapling when the King himself owned the estate seven centuries ago. Since the Bruce Oak fell, the throne project has been ten years in the making and has been exhibited internationally already since its completion, visiting Teba in Spain earlier this year with plans for it to travel to Pennsylvania, USA after its stay with Scone Palace. The Strathleven Artiszans, who aim to promote historical links to King Robert the Bruce and Kind David II, also plan to use the Throne as an educational tool to bring history to life. Duncan Thomson, chairman of Strathleven Artisans, said: “Strathleven Artizans have worked since 2006 to promote Robert the Bruce, his family and the period in which he lived in our area.

Robert the Bruce is one of Scotland’s best-known monarchs, and his story has captivated people for generations. It has been amazing being able to showcase the traditionally crafted throne to so many brand new audiences, both young and old, internationally and here in Scotland. We are delighted to bring the ‘Great Throne’ to Scone Palace where King Robert the Bruce was crowned all those years ago.” The Throne is based on studies of Bruce’s seal of 1316 where he is sitting on a throne featuring clawed feet and four mythological creatures on the arm rests, facing north, south east and west to protect the King from every direction. Margo Baird, head of marketing at Scone Palace, added: “It is an immense privilege to exhibit this incredibly intricate hand crafted throne. We hope many members of the public will visit to admire the throne’s craftmanship and be inspired to learn about this celebrated Scottish King who had such strong historical links to Scone Palace.” Robert the Bruce’s throne will be on display at Scone Palace until October 31 before it embarks on another adventure with the Strathleven Artizans.

To find out more, visit or Sign in A place steeped in Scottish History | Scone Palace Scotland Art & Archive Enquiries Rich in Scottish History There can be few places of interest in Scotland as historically potent as Scone Palace. When you visit the Palace you are walking in the footsteps of Scotland’s ancient founding fathers, both pagan and Christian. It was an important religious gathering place of the Picts, it was the site of an early Christian church and it housed the Stone of Destiny . Robert the Bruce was crowned at Scone in 1306 and the last coronation was of Charles II, when he accepted the Scottish crown in 1651. The place of coronation was called Caislean Credi, 'Hill of Credulity', which survives as the present Moot Hill. The present owner, the 8th Earl of Mansfield, William David Murray, succeeded his father in 1971. He is married to Pamela, daughter of Wilfred Neill Foster, CBE. Lord Mansfield is also 13th Viscount Stormont and Lord Scone, 11th Lord Balvaird and Hereditary Keeper of Bruce’s Castle of Lochmaben.

Lord Mansfield has three children. His eldest son, Alexander, by courtesy Viscount Stormont, is the heir. Kings & Earls In the 9th century, Kenneth MacAlpin established himself as the first true King of Scots. According to legend, he is said to have invited the Pictish King Drostan with all his nobles to banquet with him at Scone. While they were seated, and perhaps taking advantage of their gluttony of both drink and food, the Scots drew out the bolts supporting the boards, whereupon the Picts fell into the hollows below their benches. While caught in some strange contraption up to their knees, they were all slaughtered. The last coronation in Scotland took place at Scone in 1651 when King Charles II was crowned King of Scots upon the Moot Hill. The Earls following the 3rd Earl all suffered imprisonment, mainly in consequence of their support of the Jacobite cause. The 4th Viscount Stormont was briefly imprisoned for his part in a fatal duel. The 5th Viscount opposed the Treaty of Union and entertained the Old Chevalier at Scone Palace during the 1715 Jacobite Rebellion, for which he was imprisoned.

The 6th Viscount suffered the same fate when his sisters received the young Chevalier, Bonnie Prince Charlie, at Scone during the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion. The Moot Hill From the time of Kenneth MacAlpin, who created the Kingdom of Scone in the 9th century, all the Kings of Scots were crowned on the Moot Hill, seated upon the Stone of Scone. Even after the Stone's removal by King Edward I in 1296, the Moot Hill continued to be the crowning place of the Kings of Scots. Probably the greatest historic event to take place at Scone was the coronation of Robert the Bruce, who declared himself King of Scots upon the Moot Hill on 25 March 1306. The last coronation held at Scone was that of King Charles II as King of Scots on 1 January 1651, some nine years before he was restored to the English throne. Standing on the Moot Hill is a small Presbyterian chapel. Like the Palace, it was restored in Gothic style around 1804. A replica of the Stone of Scone sits upon the Moot Hill, marking the site of the original.

Discoveries at Scone - Archeological Dig From 2008, exciting geophysical analysis and excavations uncovered the lost rich abbey of Scone The Abbey had at one time, housed the Stone of Scone, also known as the Stone of Destiny. The Moothill and Abbey of Scone Project (MAS) aimed to find out more about the origins and development of Scone led by Dr Oliver O’Grady. The team is also planning to excavate further trenches to test other intriguing results from the geophysical surveys. His team revealed some of the foundations of the 230ft-long abbey church, which stood next to the monks’ cloister. Other valuable finds included ornate carved mediaeval sculpture fragments, delicate personal items including a decorative copper pin and skeletal remains under the church floor. The Murray Family The first Lord Scone was Sir David Murray. He was of Flemish noble origin, and was Cup-bearer, Master of the Horse and Captain of the Guard to King James VI of Scotland. The 3rd Lord Stormont held the last coronation in Scotland. This took place at Scone in 1651 when King Charles II was crowned King of Scots upon the Moot Hill.

The Earls following the 4th and 5th Earls all suffered imprisonment, mainly in consequence of their support of the Jacobite cause. Born at Scone in 1705, William Murray, son of the 5th Viscount Stormont, rose to become a man of enormous influence, respected as an eminent lawyer. He was created 1st Earl of Mansfield in 1776. The 2nd Earl of Mansfield was a brilliant ambassador and politician. He was Britain’s Envoy in Dresden in 1756, then Envoy-Extraordinary to the Imperial Court of Vienna, where he was much in the confidence of the Empress Maria Theresa. He was Ambassador to France from 1772 until 1778, during which time he became a confidante of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette. He later became Lord Justice General of Scotland and Lord President of the Council in the British Cabinet. It was David Murray, 3rd Earl of Mansfield, who, at the beginning of the 19th century, instructed much of the restoration work at Scone Palace, resulting in the splendid and enlarged interior we see today. The architect was William Atkinson.

The restrained Gothic style which he used was entirely in keeping with the monastic history of Scone. William David Murray, 4th Earl of Mansfield (1806-1898) played an active part in public affairs, becoming Father of the House of Lords. His grandson, also William David Murray, succeeded as 5th Earl of Mansfield. The 6th Earl was the brother of the 5th Earl. His son, Alan David Murray, became the 6th Earl. His son, Mungo David Murray, 7th Earl of Mansfield, was MP for Perth. Save William Murray rose from the English Bar to become Lord Chief Justice and one of the greatest 18th century British judges. Famous for his oratory, the "silver-tongued" Murray is known for having reformed court procedure and developed commercial law to keep pace with the British empire. He was also known for ground breaking and often unpopular judgements, such as his declaration that slavers had no rights over their slaves on English soil.

" Let justice be done though the heavens may fall " William Murray, 1st of Earl of Mansfield ( d1793 ) The Present Family The present and 8th Earl of Mansfield, William David Murray, succeeded his father in 1971. He is married to Pamela, daughter of Wilfred Neill Foster CBE. Lord Mansfield is also 13th Viscount Stormont and Lord Scone, 11th Lord Balvaird and Hereditary Keeper of Bruce’s Castle of Lochmaben. He read law at Oxford University and developed an extensive common law practice as an English barrister. He entered politics and business, and was appointed a member of the first British delegation to the European Parliament. He became a director of a number of public companies. In his spare time he devoted time to several charities, especially those concerned with young people. He was the first President of the Scottish Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders. In 1979, on the formation of Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative administration, he became Minister of State for Scotland. In 1983, he was appointed Minister of State for Northern Ireland.

Lord Mansfield quit active politics in 1985 and took up an appointment by the Queen to become First Crown Estate Commissioner, combining the running of the hereditary lands of the Queen with an active interest in his family estates. He retired from this post in 1996. Remade Robert The Bruce throne goes on display - The Scotsman Remade Robert The Bruce throne goes on display Replica of the throne of King Robert the Bruce at Scone Palace. Picture: Graham Hart/Perthshire Picture Agency TIM BUGLER Have your say A HANDCRAFTED replica of the throne of Battle of Bannockburn victor Robert The Bruce went on display at Scone Palace, the ancient crowning place of the Scottish kings. The throne has been built from wood from one of the largest and oldest trees in Scotland, the Bruce Oak from the Strathleven Estate, Dunbartonshire, which fell following a fire in 2005. The throne made in partnership between Historic Scotland and Strathleven Artisians uses oak from Scone Palace where Robert the Bruce was crowned in 1306.

Picture: Graham Hart/Perthshire Picture Agency The tree would have been a sapling when the King himself owned the estate seven centuries ago. It also includes timber from across Scotland including pieces from Scone Palace, Turnberry where Bruce was born, and the battlefield at Bannockburn itself. Since the Bruce Oak fell, the throne has been ten years in the making and has been exhibited internationally already since its completion, visiting Teba in Spain earlier this year with plans for it to travel to Pennsylvania, USA after its stay with Scone Palace. Makers the Strathleven Artiszans, who aim to promote historical links to King Robert the Bruce and Kind David II, also plan to use the Throne as an educational tool to bring history to life. Duncan Thomson, chairman of Strathleven Artisans, said: “Strathleven Artizans have worked since 2006 to promote Robert the Bruce, his family and the period in which he lived. “Robert the Bruce’s story has captivated people for generations. “It has been amazing being able to showcase the traditionally crafted throne to so many brand new audiences, both young and old, internationally and here in Scotland.

“We are delighted to bring the ‘Great Throne’ to Scone Palace where King Robert the Bruce was crowned all those years ago.” The Throne is based on studies of Bruce’s seal of 1316 where he is sitting on a throne featuring clawed feet and four mythological creatures on the arm rests, facing north, south east and west to protect the King from every direction. Margo Baird, Head of Marketing at Scone Palace, said it was “an immense privilege” to exhibit “this incredibly intricate hand crafted throne”. She said: “We hope many members of the public will visit to admire the throne’s craftmanship and be inspired to learn about this celebrated Scottish King who had such strong historical links to Scone Palace.” Robert the Bruce’s throne will be on display at Scone Palace until October 31st before it embarks on another adventure with the Strathleven Artizans. de Bruce of Scotland - Clifton's Collectibles Genealogy , whose descendants held lands in England as Lords of Skelton, until extinction 1271.

* Gisborough Priory is a ruined former Augustinian priory in the town of Guisborough, now in the borough of Redcar and Cleveland and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. It was founded in 1119 as the Priory of St. Mary by Robert de Brus, 1st Lord of Annandale Robert de Brus 2nd Lord of Annandale,"the Cadet", flourished 1138, died in 1194. He was the son of Robert de Brus 1st Lord of Annandale. His wife was Eufemia de Aumale, daughter of Ingleram de Aumale, born 1111 in Aumale, Seine-Maritime, France and was the son of Stephen Count of Aumale, born before 1070 and died 1127. Stephen's wife was Hawise de Mortimer in 1138, b: about 1083 in Herfordshire, England.

Robert's father, (the 1st Lord of Annandale) renounced his allegiance to David I when he invaded England before the 5 Battle of the Standard to support his niece Matilda's claim to the English throne against that of King Stephen . Robert II. Robert de Brus 2nd (the son) remained loyal to David and took over his father's holdings in Scotland. Robert was buried at Gisborough Priory in the North Riding, Yorkshire, England, a monastery founded by his father Robert I de Brus. Robert de Brus and Eufemia de Aumale, had five children: Robert III de Brus died circa 1191 was the oldest son of Robert de Brus, 2nd Lord of Annandale and predeceased his father did not inherit the lordship of Annandale, which passed to his brother, William de Brus, 3rd Lord. He married in 1183, Isabella Mac William (Isibï¿½al inghean Uilleim), illegitimate daughter of King William I of Scotland through the latter's liaison with a daughter of Robert Avenel lord of Eskdale. There were no children.

William de Brus, 3rd Lord of Annandale, who died 16 July 1212. Bernard Agatha Euphemia William de Brus 3rd Lord of Annandale, was born about 1103 in Annandale, Dumfrieshire, Scotland , and died 16 July 1212, in Annandale, Dumfrieshire, Scotland. He was the second eldest son of Robert de Brus 2nd Lord of Annandale and Euphemia de Aumale. 3 William de Brus possessed large estates in the north of England. He obtained from King John, the grant of a weekly market at Hartlepool, and granted lands to the canons of Gisburn.Very little else is known about William's activities He married Beatrice de Teyden, the daughter of Paulinus de Teyden and Beatrice de Evermure.

The couple had two sons: Robert de Brus 4th Lord of Annandale born about 1195 William de Brus Robert de Brewes 4th Lord of Annandale born Annandale, Dumfrieshire, Scotland about 1195 6 and died between 1226-1233 1226 in Stilton, Huntingtonshire, England. He married Lady Isabella of Huntingdon 7 . Robert de Brewes 4th Lord of Annandale was buried in Gisborough Priory or in Saltre Abbey, near Stilton, Gloucestershire.

The couple had three children: Bernard Bruce, Lord of Connington and Exton, died circa 5 August 1266 Beatrice de Brewes, married Hugh de Neville , died before July 1273 Sir Robert de Brus, 5th Lord of Annandale, born 1210, died 31 March 1295 Sir Robert de Brus 5th Lord of Annandale, born about 1210 and died 31 March 1295 in Lochmaben Castle, was the son of Robert de Brus 4th Lord of Annandale and Lady Isabella of Huntingdon. Robert de Brus 5th Lord of Annandale married first, Isabella de Clare, daughter of , Gilbert de Clare, 4th Earl of Gloucester and Lady Isabella Marshal, on 12 May 1240. Secondly, he married, he married Christina de Ireby, daughter of Sir William de Ireby and Christian de Hodeholme, on 3 May 1273 at Hoddam, in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

The death of Alexander III of Scotland in 1286 without a male heir, the throne of Scotland had become the possession of the three-year old Margaret, Maid of Norway, the granddaughter of the King. In 1290 the Guardians of Scotland, who had been appointed to govern the realm during the young Queen's minority, drew up the Treaty of Birgham, a marriage contract between Margaret and the then five-year old Edward of Caernarvon, the heir to the English throne. The treaty, amongst other points, contained the provision that although any offspring of this marriage would be heir to the crowns of both England and Scotland, the latter kingdom should be "separate, apart and free in itself without subjection to the English Kingdom".The intent, clearly, was to keep Scotland as an independent entity. In early October the young Queen died in Orkney on her way to Scotland, leaving Scotland without an undisputed successor to the throne. After 8 this extinction of the senior line of the Scottish royal house (the line of William I of Scotland) David of Huntingdon's descendants were the primary candidates for the throne.

The two most notable claimants to the throne, John Balliol and Robert (de Brus the 5th) himself represented descent through David's daughters Margaret and Isobel respectively. To avoid the catastrophe of open warfare between the Bruce and Balliol, the Guardians and other Scots magnates asked Edward I to intervene. Edward I gave judgment on the Scottish case on November 17, 1292 in favour of John Balliol, with his son Edward becoming heir designate. This decision had the support of the majority of Scots nobles and magnates, even a number of those appointed by Bruce as auditors. Of special note was the support of John II Comyn, another competitor and head of the most powerful baronial family in Scotland, who was married to Balliol's sister, Eleanor. So, John Balliol became King of Scotland, reigning from 17 November 1292 – 10 July 1296. But, that was not the end of the story. This is a preamble to what happens as time moves on. Sir Robert de Brus died at Lochmaben Castle and was buried at Guisborough Priory on 17 April 1295.

They had a son, Robert de Brus 6th Lord of Annandale, born in Writtle, Chelmsford, Essex, England. Robert de Brus 6th Lord of Annandale 4 , born in Writtie, Chelmsford, Essex, England was the son of Robert de Brus 5th Lord of Annandale and Isabella of Gloucester and Hertford. Robert de Brus 6th Lord of Annandale He married, first, Margaret, Countess of Carrick, daughter of Neil, 2nd Earl of Carrick and Margaret Stewart, in 1271 at Turnberry Castle, Turnberry, Ayrshire, Scotland, without Royal consent, and so she had to pay a heavy fine. He married, secondly, Alianore___ 9 after 1292. He succeeded to the title of Lord of Annandale before 4 July 1295. He fought in the Battle of Dunbar on 28 April 1296, with King Edward I. He was created 1st Lord Brus [England by writ] on 15 March 1297.

He died before 4 April 1304 and was buried at Abbey of Holm Cultram.

The children of Robert de Brus 6th Lord of Annandal and Margaret, Countess of Carrick were: Edward de Bruce, 1st Earl and last of Carrick died 14 October 1318 Sir Thomas Bruce died 9 February 1307 Alexander Bruce died 9 February 1307 Neil Bruce died circa September 1306 Lady Mary Bruce died before 22 September 1323 Lady Christina Bruce died 1356/57 Margaret Bruce Matilda Bruce died between 1323 - 1329 Robert I Bruce, King of Scotland born 11 July 1274, died 7 June 1329 Isabella Bruce born circa 1275 died 1358 Robert the Bruce King of Scots Robert the Bruce King of Scots , Children of Robert I Bruce, King of Scotland Sir Neil of Carrick died 17 October 1346 Walter of Odistoun Robert Bruce, Baron of Liddesdale born between 1302 - 1314, died 12 August 1332 Elizabeth Bruce born before 1327 Children of Robert I Bruce

, King of Scotland and Lady Elizabeth de Burgh David II Bruce, King of Scotland b.

5 Mar 1323/24, d. 22 Feb 1370/71 Margaret Bruce born before 1327, died bet 30 Mar 1346 - 9 Nov 1347 Matilda Bruce born b 1327, d. 20 Jul 1353 John Bruce b Oct 1327 Child of Robert Bruce I, King of Scotland and Isabella, Lady of Mar Marjorie Bruce, born December 1296 and died 2 March 1316. She married Robert Stewart 6th High Steward of Scotland . Her son succeeded his childless uncle David II of Scotland in 1371 as King Robert II. Her descendants include the House of Stuart and all their successors on the throne of Scotland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom. Her mother, Isabella, a nineteen-year-old noblewoman from the Clan Mar, died soon after giving birth to her. Her father was then the Earl of Carrick, and her mother died the Countess of Carrick; she never became Queen. Marjorie was named after her father's mother, Marjorie, Countess of Carrick.

According to legend, her parents had been very much in love, and Robert the Bruce did not remarry until Marjorie was six years old. In 1302, a courtier named Elizabeth de Burgh became her stepmother. On 27 March 1306, her father was crowned King of Scots at Scone, Perthshire, and Marjorie, then nine years old, became a Princess of Scotland. David II, King of Scotland David II Bruce, King of Scotland 11 was born on 5 March 1323/24 at Dunfermline Palace, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, the son of Robert I Bruce, King of Scotland and Lady Elizabeth de Burgh. He married, first, Joanna 'of the Tower' Plantagenet, daughter of Edward II, King of England and Isabelle de France, on 17 July 1328 at Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, England.

He married, secondly, Margaret Drummond, daughter of Sir Malcolm Drummond, 10th Thane of Lennox and Margaret de Graham, on 20 February 1363/64 at Inchmurdach Manor, Fife, Scotland. He and Margaret Drummond were divorced circa 20 March 1370. He was crowned King of Scotland on 24 November 1331 at Scone Abbey, Scone, Perthshire, Scotland. He was deposed as King of Scotland in August 1332. He gained the title of King David II of Scotland in December 1332. He was deposed as King of Scotland in 1333. He gained the title of King David II of Scotland in 1336. In 1346 he attempted to invade England whilst Edward III was preoccupied with France and Phillip IV. Following a battle and rout at Neville's Cross near Durham, David was captured by the English on 17 October 1346, and held captive until the Treaty of Berwick was signed in October 1357.

He died unexpectedly on 22 February 1370/71 at age 46 at Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, without issue. He was buried at Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. He was succeeded by his nephew, Robert Stewart , the first Stewart King of Scotland. Robert, the hereditary High Steward of Scotland and grandson of Robert Bruce, is crowned. See Robert Stewart. Marjorie Bruce married Walter Stewart 6th High Steward of Scotland for more information about this family. Sources and footnotes

Question: In which palace was Robert the Bruce crowned in 1306?
Answer: Scone